Office of the City Controller
Section 16 · Pages 95–101 · 5 tables · includes narrative
Key changes
- Budget increases 3.8% ($203K), led by $126K more in Regular
- Reduces by 1 position (57 → 56 FTE)
On this page
Office of the City Controller
Office of the City Controller 
Mission
The City Controller is the fiscal watchdog for the citizens of the City of Pittsburgh. It is the job of the Controller to protect city tax dollars from waste, fraud and abuse. The Controller does this by auditing all city government related expenditures (the city also has a Finance Department and Treasurer who collect and audit all city revenues). The Controller also conducts audits of all city departments and city authorities such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Pittsburgh Parking Authority, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and the Pittsburgh Housing Authority. Through audits of city departments and authorities, the Controller makes recommendations on how to make those departments more effective, efficient and how to better spend city tax dollars.
Departmental/Bureau Overview
The Office of the City Controller includes the following core services: Accounting - Incorporates all financial data into the Controller's financial information system, performs bank reconciliation's, transfers of funds, and code account creation; prepares monthly reports of revenues, quarterly reports of expenditures, and the City’s Annual Report Accounts Payable - Audits city government related expenditures and provides payment to city vendors, audits all city contracts for specs before countersignature by Controller and digitizes all contracts, audits and payment documentation for support checks; also accepts bids to be awarded for contracts Performance Audit - Conducts audits of City departments and authorities (URA, Parking, Stadium, etc.) to ensure that program goals and objectives are being met; to test for compliance with applicable laws; and to make constructive recommendations for improvement Fiscal Audit - Performs fiscal reviews of city departments and authorities, typically analyzing revenues and expenditures; audits the City's imprest and trust fund accounts.
Engineering - Inspects and audits engineering, architectural, construction and demolition contracts during and after completion of projects
Position Summary
Lists authorized positions with FTE counts and pay grades.
| Title | 2025 FTE | Rate/ Grade | Hours/ Months | 2025 Budget | 2026 FTE | Rate/ Grade | Hours/ Months | 2026 Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | ||||||||
| City Controller | 1 | 90,022 | 12 | 90,022 | 1 | 92,726 | 12 | 92,726 |
| Deputy Controller | 1 | 33G | 12 | 117,312 | 1 | 33G | 12 | 120,827 |
| Controller's Executive Secretary | 1 | 30G | 12 | 102,419 | 1 | 30G | 12 | 105,498 |
| Assistant Controller - Chief of Staff | — | 25G | — | — | 1 | 25G | 12 | 86,008 |
| Assistant Controller - Administration | 1 | 25G | 12 | 83,512 | — | 25G | — | — |
| HR Organizational Administrator | — | 25G | — | — | 1 | 25G | 12 | 86,008 |
| Senior Systems Analyst 3 | 1 | 25G | 12 | 83,512 | 1 | 25G | 12 | 86,008 |
| Constituent Service Officer | 1 | 20G | 12 | 68,162 | 1 | 21G | 12 | 73,258 |
| Controller's Office Communication Specialist | 1 | 17G | 12 | 60,112 | 1 | 17G | 12 | 61,922 |
| Contracts and Policy | ||||||||
| Controller's Solicitor | 1 | 33G | 12 | 117,312 | 1 | 33G | 12 | 120,827 |
| Special Projects Manager | 1 | 23G | 12 | 77,043 | — | 23G | — | — |
| Research Director | 1 | 23G | 12 | 77,043 | 1 | 23G | 12 | 79,352 |
| Contracts Division Manager | 1 | 20G | 12 | 68,162 | 1 | 21G | 12 | 73,258 |
| Accounting | ||||||||
| Chief Accounting Officer, C.P.A. | 1 | 33G | 12 | 117,312 | 1 | 33G | 12 | 120,827 |
| Assistant Accounting Manager | 1 | 28G | 12 | 94,806 | 1 | 28G | 12 | 97,656 |
| Senior Accountant | 1 | 26G | 12 | 87,318 | 1 | 26G | 12 | 89,939 |
| Accountant 3 | 1 | 21G | 12 | 71,115 | 1 | 22G | 12 | 76,294 |
| Accountant 2 | 1 | 20G | 12 | 68,162 | 1 | 20G | 12 | 70,200 |
| Account Clerk | 4 | 18G | 12 | 250,681 | 3 | 18G | 12 | 193,627 |
| Inspectors | ||||||||
| Director of Public Affairs | 1 | 32G | 12 | 110,718 | 1 | 32G | 12 | 114,046 |
| Controller's Engineer | 1 | 30G | 12 | 102,419 | 1 | 30G | 12 | 105,498 |
| Materials Inspector, Manager | — | 21G | — | — | 1 | 24G | 12 | 82,742 |
| Prevailing Wage Officer | 1 | 21G | 12 | 71,115 | 1 | 21G | 12 | 73,258 |
| Materials Inspector 2 | 1 | 21G | 12 | 71,115 | 1 | 18G | 12 | 64,542 |
| Assistant Contract Supervisor | 1 | 20G | 12 | 68,162 | — | 20G | — | — |
| Controller's Clerk | — | 16G | — | — | 1 | 16G | 12 | 59,301 |
| Accounts Payable | ||||||||
| Accounts Payable Manager | 1 | 31G | 12 | 106,475 | 1 | 31G | 12 | 109,678 |
| Financial Systems Administrator | 1 | 28G | 12 | 94,806 | 1 | 28G | 12 | 97,656 |
| Accounts Payable Assistant Manager | 1 | 26G | 12 | 87,318 | 1 | 26G | 12 | 89,939 |
| Senior Systems Analyst 3 | 1 | 25G | 12 | 83,512 | — | 25G | — | — |
| Computer Operator 2 | 1 | 22G | 12 | 74,069 | 1 | 22G | 12 | 76,294 |
| Accounts Payable Specialist | — | 21G | — | — | 1 | 21G | 12 | 73,258 |
| Contract Specialist | 1 | 17G | 12 | 60,112 | 1 | 17G | 12 | 61,922 |
| Controller's Clerk | 6 | 16G | 12 | 345,449 | 5 | 16G | 12 | 296,504 |
| Auditing | ||||||||
| Chief Audit Officer | 1 | 31G | 12 | 106,475 | 1 | 31G | 12 | 109,678 |
| C.P.A., As Needed | 1 | 27G | 12 | 91,021 | 1 | 27G | 12 | 93,746 |
| Lead Auditor | — | 27G | — | — | 1 | 27G | 12 | 93,746 |
| Assistant Fiscal Audit Manager | 1 | 23G | 12 | 77,043 | — | 23G | — | — |
| Assistant Audit Manager | — | 23G | — | — | 1 | 23G | 12 | 79,352 |
| Assistant Performance Audit Manager | 1 | 23G | 12 | 77,043 | — | 23G | — | — |
| Internal Auditor | — | 19G | — | — | 16 | 19G | 12 | 1,076,608 |
| Fiscal Auditor | 8 | 18G | 12 | 501,363 | — | 18G | — | — |
| Performance Auditor | 8 | 18G | 12 | 501,363 | — | 18G | — | — |
| Total Full-Time Permanent Positions | 57 | 4,263,583 | 56 | 4,392,003 |
Position Summary
Lists authorized positions with FTE counts and pay grades.
| Title | 2025 FTE | Rate/ Grade | Hours/ Months | 2025 Budget | 2026 FTE | Rate/ Grade | Hours/ Months | 2026 Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary, Part-Time, and Seasonal Allowances | ||||||||
| Part Time / Intern | — | varies | 83,250 | — | varies | 56,649 | ||
| — | 83,250 | — | 56,649 | |||||
| Total Full-Time Permanent Positions | 57 | 4,263,583 | 56 | 4,392,003 | ||||
| Temporary, Part-Time, and Seasonal Allowances | — | 83,250 | — | 56,649 | ||||
| Vacancy Allowance | — | (213,179) | — | (215,309) | ||||
| Total Full-Time Positions and Net Salaries | 57 | 4,133,654 | 56 | 4,233,343 |
Subclass Detail
Compares actual, budgeted, and proposed spending across fiscal years.
| 2024 Actual | 2025 Budget | 2026 Budget | Increase/ (Decrease) | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expenditures | |||||
| 51 - PERSONNEL-SALARIES & WAGES | 3,583,174 | 4,133,655 | 4,233,343 | 99,688 | 2.4% |
| 51101 - Regular | 3,558,401 | 4,050,405 | 4,176,694 | 126,289 | |
| 51103 - Part-Time | — | 83,250 | 56,649 | (26,601) | |
| 51207 - Leave Buyback | 24,640 | — | — | — | |
| 51401 - Premium Pay | 133 | — | — | — | |
| 52 - PERSONNEL-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS | 950,089 | 1,060,409 | 1,145,826 | 85,417 | 8.1% |
| 52101 - Health Insurance | 517,581 | 535,139 | 616,390 | 81,251 | |
| 52111 - Other Insurance/Benefits | 69,999 | 80,362 | 78,913 | (1,449) | |
| 52201 - Social Security | 267,988 | 331,908 | 336,543 | 4,635 | |
| 52601 - Personal Leave Buyback | 94,521 | 98,000 | 98,980 | 980 | |
| 52602 - Tuition Reimbursement | — | 15,000 | 15,000 | — | |
| 53 - PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL SERVICES | 162,427 | 150,000 | 198,315 | 48,315 | 32.2% |
| 53101 - Administrative Fees | 7,240 | — | — | — | |
| 53301 - Workforce Training | 952 | 20,000 | 20,000 | — | |
| 53501 - Auditing & Accounting Services | 84,251 | 75,000 | 93,920 | 18,920 | |
| 53509 - Computer Maintenance | 38,988 | — | 18,000 | 18,000 | |
| 53517 - Legal Fees | 1,135 | — | — | — | |
| 53901 - Professional Services | 29,861 | 55,000 | 66,395 | 11,395 | |
| 54 - PROPERTY SERVICES | 385 | 9,500 | 750 | (8,750) | (92.1)% |
| 54101 - Cleaning | — | 750 | 750 | — | |
| 54201 - Maintenance | 385 | 2,250 | — | (2,250) | |
| 54505 - Office Equipment | — | 6,500 | — | (6,500) | |
| 55 - OTHER SERVICES | 1,620 | 12,000 | 8,000 | (4,000) | (33.3)% |
| 55501 - Printing & Binding | 1,620 | 12,000 | 8,000 | (4,000) | |
| 56 - SUPPLIES | 7,108 | 17,076 | 6,650 | (10,426) | (61.1)% |
| 56101 - Office Supplies | 4,335 | 9,440 | 4,000 | (5,440) | |
| 56151 - Operational Supplies | 2,773 | 7,636 | 2,650 | (4,986) | |
| 57 - PROPERTY | — | 19,639 | 12,500 | (7,139) | (36.4)% |
| 57501 - Machinery & Equipment | — | 15,819 | 7,500 | (8,319) | |
| 57571 - Furniture & Fixtures | — | 3,820 | 5,000 | 1,180 | |
| Expenditures Total | 4,704,803 | 5,402,279 | 5,605,384 | 203,105 | 3.8% |
Five Year Forecast
Projects budget figures across multiple future years.
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expenditures | |||||
| 51 - PERSONNEL-SALARIES & WAGES | 4,233,343 | 4,270,735 | 4,308,146 | 4,345,986 | 4,384,671 |
| 52 - PERSONNEL-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS | 1,145,826 | 1,244,431 | 1,272,621 | 1,301,480 | 1,331,189 |
| 53 - PROF. & TECHNICAL SERVICES | 198,315 | 198,315 | 198,315 | 198,315 | 198,315 |
| 54 - PROPERTY SERVICES | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 |
| 55 - OTHER SERVICES | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| 56 - SUPPLIES | 6,650 | 6,650 | 6,650 | 6,650 | 6,650 |
| 57 - PROPERTY | 12,500 | 12,500 | 12,500 | 12,500 | 12,500 |
| Total | 5,605,384 | 5,741,381 | 5,806,982 | 5,873,681 | 5,942,075 |
| % Change from Prior Year | 3.8% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.2% |
Budget data table.
| OFFICE OF THE CITY CONTROLLER 2026 Expenditures by Subclass 54 - PROPERTY SERVICES 56 - SUPPLIES | |
|---|---|
| 55 - OTHER SERVICES 53 - PROF. & TECHNICAL SERVICES 52 - PERSONNEL-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS | 57 - PROPERTY |